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jhbandcats's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Caleb Carr is so deft with language and style that we clearly see the underside of turn of the (last) century NY through the eyes of someone all too familiar with its seediness. There are some funny bits here, especially with Mike the ferret (a literal ferret, not a criminal name) as he bonds with Stevie in preparation for a mission. All the characters are again fleshed out into real people; none is just background filler.
I first read this when it came out in 1997, but rereading it was eye opening. Having just finished Carr’s memoir of his lifelong love of cats, beginning in his horrible childhood, I was shocked to see he dedicated this book to his parents. However, I liked the jab under the dedication: Teddy Roosevelt’s “It is not having been in the dark house, but having left it, that counts.” As I moved through the book I was delighted to see that the whole thing is a F*** You to the alcoholic parents who abused him for so long. I just wish I knew their response to it.
Caleb Carr’s recent death is a huge loss for his readers. I’m now hoping to read or reread his books.
Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Misogyny
sappypatheticm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Vomit, Child abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Child death, Violence, Gun violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, War, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Rape
frostedcelt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Mental illness, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Child death, and Murder
peachani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Animal death, Death of parent, Medical content, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
myantigone's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, and Domestic abuse
ticktock's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Animal death, Death, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide, Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Violence
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Gun violence, Addiction, Blood, Child death, and Death
alexdicanio's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Medical content, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and Infertility